Dancing tap



June 22,- 1948. I J, u MONT ETAL 2,443,609

' DANCING TAP Filed June 21, 1946 I I 2 Sheets-Sheet l lllll/AIIIIIIIIIIIIII/I:{WIIIJ INVENTORS FAA/K OuMo/VT &.

June 22, 1948. J. DU MONT A 2,443,609

DANCING TAP Filed June 21, 1946 2 sneets sheet 2 INVENTORJ' QANK DuMo/vr 5 By 0020 my bf Sam- Eur THE/Z Arfoe'ysx Patented June 22, 1948 adelphia, Pa., assignors 1 0. Du Mont, Sargent and Casper, a. partnership composed of Frank I. DuVMont, Dorothy H; Sargent;

E, Casper and" Joseph" AppiicationxhmdZl, 1946,- S'erialzNo. 6 783494 '7' Claims. (Cli' 3 6 8l3l This invention relates totaps for dancing shoes, and in particular, toan improved tap wherein the elements thereof maybe loosely held to the-toe or heel of the shoe without danger of thepscrews or other. mounting means working out, oriof. the 'tapsworking loose, or coming: off, and; thereby causing embarrassment tov the dancer.

Various types of taps have been applied to dancing shoes which. are normally held-by screws, and to increaseor improve sound effects, the position of thescrews-isadjusted by the dancer beforel-the'dance is's-tarted, and'by accurate adjnstment, the exactsound desiredmayvbe ob.- tained: by loosening or tightening the screws. fhis padjustment of. the tap elements or positions of the screws. holding the' elements: to the shoesis referred-to; as tuning the-taps.

To. further increase or improve sound": effects in taps of dancing shoes, jinglinge'lements such as flat metal washers, .havebeem incorporated in opeir'spaces. intapielemements and in some-instances, ..the 'iingling element has been provided with aistem protruding: throughlanopening" in thetapfor engagement'w-ith'thefloor or surface upon which the dancer is? performing.

To ilurther -increasesound in tapi-dancing, other ta-psqhavebeen. made with loose circular buttonswhich. engage the. surface of the floor, and these: are heldzby surrounding flanges 'or sockets that are secured-to the sole.- of the shoe.

Substantially all tap elements of. this type are securedto the sole or heel of; the shoe byscrews as itp-is; desired toadjust the position-of thGrSCIGWS to tune the tapsto. different types ofndances, and theheadsof the screws are-open so thatzthey, are free-t continue to-worl; out of the'solesmW-ith the taps mounted in: thismannernsubstantially allidancers-have been embarrassedat'some time by losing the taps or at least by all of the screws except one working out,- wherein the. dance is interrupted.

'Ilo provide'an absolute guaranteeagainst-lcsing the. screws or tap elements of tap dancing shoes,.the device of. thisv invention contemplates covering the heads of the screws by a freely mounted disc or flat plate. which providesth'e sound" element, and then provides aretaining element which prevents loss of the sound element and which may be tightly or positively secured by-screws.

The purpose of this invention is,=therefore ,'-to provide improved t'ap elements for dancing shoes, which include loose sound elements; in which mounting screws of the-elementmay als'ob'e loose oreven trip the. dancen. causing. bodily." injury,

when-executing certain sliding movements.

In loosening the screws. with. the. common. solid type of tap, the resulting sound effect is only that: caused by the aluminum or other metal. tap element contacting the leather of the. sole oil-the shoe. Furthermore, aloose metal element'i'n a metal casingproduces a .bell tone-sound. rather than-a: tap; sound. I

The object'ot' this invention is, therefore to provide: a. tap for dancing shoes having, auloose tapping: element which produces ametal to met al sound ratherthan a jinglingor bell tonesound, in which" the screws holding the tap tothe shoe may be tight or loose andspositivelyprevented from working out.-

Another object is toprovide a-- looselyheld tap element fordancing shoes :that-Y is. freely held in such a manner that it is movable from side :to side; and at the. same time,-up and down which gives the dancer an ease-oi dancing'that is. not possible-with taps. of other types ordesigns.

Another object is to provide a movableelement which forms substantially thev entire surface of a tap for dancing shoes-so-that. perfectbalance maybe-maintained.

Another object is to provide a movable element in taps for dancing shoes which is slidablainall directions, w-herein the dancer: is free-to-move his feetat-whatever angle he may-desire.

Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoeszvhavingimovable tapping elements thatsmay beemadeiin -various:sizeswithout interfering with the various functions thereof.

Another obj ectvis: toprovide taps.- for dancing shoes which'include substantiallyylargemovable disc's? orzsound elements which maybe. streamlinedsrto i improvev rather than destroy? the" attraotive: appearance of the? shoes;

Another object is to provide tap's for" dancing shoes :having movable t'ap elements-inwhich' all of the individual parts may readily-be replaced Without..theanecessity of purchasing; anentire new unitr' 7 Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoes that may'readily be. fastened to.- a shoe, slippery-or: the like; i

Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoes that may be made of aluminum or magnesium alloy, in which the critical parts have sufficient strength to guarantee against breaking, without being objectionably bulky.

Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoes having movable sound elements in which the tap unit may contain several discs or sound elements with various types of openings therein, or solid elements, wherein the sound element may be interchanged for producing different sound effects.

Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoes and the like in which movable sound elements may be included without increasing the size unnecessarily or without forming objectionable, bulky elements that destroy comfort in walking, and also in which the thickness of the tap at the toe and also at the rear of the heel may be increased to provide perfect Walking ease with the taps on the shoes. Taps of this design do not make the dancing shoes feel bulky or the dancer uneasy because of improper balance.

Another object is to provide taps for dancing shoes in which the tap at the heel may be set to provide perfect balance with the tap at the toe.

A further object of the invention is to provide taps for dancing shoes having discs forming sound elements which substantially cover the surface of the tap, and in which the disc is not directly held by screws or the like but forms a floating member held in position by an auxiliary locking element.

With these and other objects in View, the invention includes a base element having an overhanging side flange and a flat plate or disc with an extending flange that is freely held under the flange of the base. The base is provided with screw openings positioned under the disc, and the device is provided with a locking element that may be attached either to the sole or base for holding the disc in the base.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings wherein: I

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the tap in position on the toe of a shoe.

Figure 2 illustrates the device attached to the heel of the shoe.

Figure 3 illustrates the base, disc, and lockingelement with the parts partly separated.

Figure 4 is a typical cross section through the tap.

Figure 5 is a view showin the open end of the tap with part broken away, showing the looking element secured to the base by machine screws.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the tap with part of the flange of the base broken away at one side.

Figure 7 is a similar view illustrating the use of separate locking element at the corners of the base and showing sound openings in the disc.

Figure 8 is a view showing the base with a modification which includes a sound recess in the surface thereof.

Figure 9 is a similar View showing sound openings through the base.

Figure 10 is also a similar view showing a groove in the base for causing different sound effects.

Figure 11 is a section similar to that shown in Figure 4 except that the screws attaching the 4 base to the sole of the shoe are unscrewed slightly, wherein both the base and sound element are loosely held.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the tap of this invention is formed with a base 10, a sound element or disc H, and a locking member I2.

The base Iii is formed with a base plate I3, shaped to correspond with the surface of the sole of a shoe, and this formed with extending flanges l4 and I5 at the sides with a continuous groove I6 under the flanges. The base plate I 3 is provided with screw openings H by which the base may be held to the sole of the shoe by flathead screws I8, as shown in Figure 4, or any suitable holding means. With the screws positioned in the base plate, in the area within the side flanges, the screw heads are covered by the disc ll so that it is impossible for the screws to 'work out with the disc in place.

The disc I l is formed with a flange 19 that slides into the groove Hi from the open end of the base, and when this is in place, the element [2 is secured to the sole by screws 20, as shown in Figure 6, so that the disc II can not be removed from the base without removing the locking element I2. The base H) and also the member l2 may, therefore, be rigidly held to the sole or heel of the shoe, and the screws in both parts may be tight, whereas at the same time, the member H may be loose to produce sound effects when tapped. To adjust the parts to tune the device, the element l2 may be removed and the disc H slid out so that the screws are accessible, and the screws may be slightly loosened or adjusted to either hold the base tight or loose, wherein the base may co-operate with the element H to vary the tone qualities of the sound produced in tapping.

Figure 11 illustrates the positions of the respective parts with the screws l8 unscrewed slightly so that the base II] is loosely held.

In the design shown in Figure 5, a, locking bar 2| is shown, similar to the bar l2, and this is secured to the end of a base 22, similar to the base ill, by screws 23. The screws, being screwed into metal, may, therefore, have comparatively fine threads which facilitate holding with less danger of the screws working loose or coming out.

In the design shown in Figure '7, individual locking elements 24 and 25 are provided at the corners of the base, and these are held by screws 26 similar to the screws 23, thereby providing means for locking the disc at each corner. It will be understood, therefore, that any suitable means may be provided for locking the floating or sound element in the base, and the locking means may either be attached to the base or to the sole or heel of the shoe.

In the design shown in Figure '7, a disc 21, similar to the disc H, is provided with openings 28 which, in co-operation with the movement of the disc and base, cause a resounding sound eifect, and this may be varied by the size and position of the openings. In the base 29 illustrated in'Figure 9, similar openings 30 are also provided in the base plate, and it will be understood that both the disc and base may be formed with openings :of this type, or the openings may be either in the disc or base.

In the design shown in Figure 8, the base 3! is provided with a central depression or recess 32, and in the design shown in Figure 10, the base 33 disc ll may besmoothor formed withf openings or depressions; and -apluralit'y o'f each of these elements maybe provided in a -unit with the different elements having "openings and grooves to produce different sound effects, whereinthe elements may be interchanged'fand combinedforl lo different dancers or dances.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction illustrated and;

described because various modifications of the details may be provided in putting the invention into practice within the purview of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sound tap for dancing shoes and the like comprising, in combination, a metallic base element having a groove therein, a metallic floating element adapted to be freely positioned in the groove of the base, and a locking element for holding the floating element in the base, said device characterized in that the floating element is positioned to cover means whereby the base may be fastened to the shoe.

2. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web parallel to and spaced from the said base plate providing an inner groove around the arcuate edge of the base plate, a vertically slidable floating element positioned against the said base plate covering the said screw openings and with the outer edge thereof registering with the inner edge of said inwardly extending flange and with the outer surface thereof substantially flush with the outer surface of said inwardly extending flange, said floating element carrying a projecting flange around the arcuate outer edge extending into the groove of the base plate limiting outward movement of said floating element, and means retaining said floating element in position upon said base plate.

3. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web parallel to and spaced from the said base plate providing an inner groove around the arcuate edge of the base plate, a vertically slidable floating element positioned against the said base plate covering the said screw openings and with the outer edge thereof registering with the inner edge of said inwardly extending flange and with the outer surface thereof substantially flush with the outer surface of said inwardly extendin flange, said floating element carrying a projecting flange around the arcuate outer edge extending into the groove of the base plate limiting outward movement of said floating element, and means at the open end of the groove of said horseshoe-like base plate for retaining said floating element in position upon said base plate.

4. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web providi I edge f'rt e base" plate, a verticallyslidable float- 6 arallel: to and spacedvtroin the:saidkbaseiplate inner groove around the arcuate ing element positioned' against the saidzbaseplate :cov'ring the said screw openings-and with the retaining saidfloating element in' position-upon said base plate, the lower surface Of -ISaid base plate tapering to a comparativelythin edge at the open end thereof.

5. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web parallel to and spaced from the said base plate providing an inner groove around the arcuate edge of the base plate, a vertically slidable floating element positioned against the said base plate covering the said screw openings and with the outer edge thereof registering with the inner edge of said inwardly extending flange and with the outer surface thereof substantially flush with the outer surface of said inwardly extending flange, said floating element carrying a projecting flange around the arcuate outer edge extending into the groove of the base plate limiting outward movement of said floating element, and means retaining said floating element in position upon said base plate, the surface of said base plate against which the floating element is positioned having recesses therein.

6. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web parallel to and spaced from the said base plate providing an inner groove around the arcuate edge of the base plate, a vertically slidable floating element positioned against the said base plate covering the said screw openings and with the outer edge thereof registering with the inner edge of said inwardly extending flange and with the outer surface thereof substantially flush with the outer surface of said inwardly extending flange, said floating element carrying a projecting flange around the arcuate outer edge extending into the groove of the base plate limiting outward movement of said floating element, and means retaining said floating element in position upon said base plate, the intermediate portion of said base plate having openings therethrough wherein the said openings are covered by the said floating element.

'7. In a tap for dancing shoes, a horseshoe-like base plate having mounting screw openings therethrough and a downwardly extending web around the outer arcuate edge with a relatively narrow inwardly extending flange integral with the web parallel to and spaced from the said base plate providing an inner groove around the arcuate edge of the base plate, a vertically slidable floating element positioned against the said base plate covering the said screw openings and with the outer edge thereof registering with the inner edge of said inwardly extending flange and with the outer surface thereof substantially flush with the outer surfaee of said inwardly extending flange, said floating element carrying a projecting flange around the arcuate outer edge extending into the groove of the base plate limiting outward movement of said floating element, a bar positioned against the flat end of the horseshoe-like base plate, and screws extending through the bar into the Webs securing the bar in position and retaining the floating element in the base plate.

FRANK J. DU MONT. DOROTHY H. SARGENT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATEN'rs' Name Date Sutclifie June 23, 1903 Lavoie Dec. 10, 1912 Robaszewski Dec.- 7, 1915 Sothen Aug. 1,- 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Number Great Britain Sept. 18, 1919 

